The sun is soon to set on another remarkable year at St Edward’s School. Pupils have naturally been supported to navigate through moments of adversity - socially, emotionally, behaviourally and academically and they have had a dedicated staff team to walk alongside them. But there have also been some immeasurable highs.
At St Edward’s School, our pupils are encouraged to adopt a growth mindset towards their recovery and progress - that they can choose the relationship they have with failure, rather than always being negatively affected by the prospect of it. A healthy attitude towards the role of failure for our pupils in their pursuit of meaningful achievements is a game-changer. In the words of playwright, Samuel Beckett, ‘Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’
To that end, our end-of-year awards were, for some, a recognition of the fruits of their labour; excellent mock examination results, a beautiful piece of artwork - worthy of display, or first place in a sporting fixture. But for others, it was an acknowledgement of the journey they are on, their perseverance and resilience in the face of a degree of challenge that perhaps in the past they may have avoided out of a lack of confidence. Today’s awards represented pupils’ improved perceptions of themselves as learners, a refusal to be defined by a diagnosis or past experiences of education and the realisation that they can succeed.
Special mention has to go to year 10, Alex, who was awarded the coveted, Outstanding Personal Progress Award 2023. Alex collected a number of awards across the curriculum and, to that end, was the staff team’s unanimous choice. He exemplifies everything we would hope for a St Edward's School pupil, embodying our values and being a great role model for the younger pupils in school and his own peer group. He has grown in confidence, improved his attendance and applied himself to his learning with vigour, as a result of which, he achieved a raft of impressive grades in his recent mock examinations. His work ethic even extends beyond the classroom and into work parties, where one can only imagine he has amassed a small fortune for the summer holidays. Alex also acts as an ambassador for the school off-site, whether attending curriculum field trips to remote castles in Wales or playing Dungeons & Dragons. We have a year to go, but the staff are confident that with his current attitude towards his placement, learning, friendships, and aspirations, the world is his oyster. A very impressive year. Well done from all of us at St Edward’s School.
Please see below, the full list of awards, which also included a long list of 100% attendees.
Outstanding Personal Progress 2023 Alexander B
Student Councillor of the Year Alexander B
Curriculum Awards
Lower School Student of the Year in English Antoni M
Middle School Student of the Year in English Charlie J
Upper School Student of the Year in English Alexander B
Lower School Mathematician of the Year Leon A-H
Middle School Mathematician of the Year Conan J
Upper School Mathematician of the Year Joseph W
Lower School Scientific Breakthrough Award 2023 Finbar R-B
Middle School Scientific Breakthrough Award 2023 Dominic B
Upper School Scientific Breakthrough Award 2023 Alexander B
Lower School Religious Studies Student of the Year Sheldon B
Middle School Religious Studies Student of the Year Xander S
Upper School Religious Studies Student of the Year Joseph W
Lower School Humanities Student of the Year Albert M
Middle School Humanities Student of the Year Rio M
Upper School Humanities Student of the Year Dominic C
Lower School RSHE Student of the Year Albert M
Middle School RSHE Student of the Year Dani H-S
Upper School RSHE Student of the Year Alexander B
Creative Awards
Lower School Artist of the Year Antoni M
Middle School Artist of the Year Dani H-S
Upper School Artist of the Year Layton A-C
Lower School Design Technology Student of the Year Albert M
Middle School Design Technology Student of the Year Edyn H-R
Upper School Design Technology Student of the Year Dominic C
Lower School Creative Media Student of the Year Antoni M
Middle School Creative Media Student of the Year (Joint) Thomas S
Middle School Creative Media Student of the Year (Joint) Kian B
Upper School Creative Media Student of the Year Warrick D
Lower School Alternative Curriculum Awards
Outstanding Effort Award Jenson B
Personal Progress Award Lenny F
Sports Awards
Lower School Sportsman of the Year Oliver M
Middle School Sportsman of the Year Montgomery C-P
Upper School Sportsman of the Year Joseph W
Footballer of the Year Jayden S
Lower School Swimmer of the Year Finbar R-B
Middle School Swimmer of the Year Kian B
Upper School Swimmer of the Year Tyler F
Therapeutic Awards
Adaptive Skills Award Shane K
Communication Award Hugh C
100% Attendance
Lower School
Jenson B
Simon B
Lenny F
Vinnie M
Finbar R
Antoni M
Hugo S
Kane S
Joe T
Harry U
Middle School
Kian B
Monty C
Cody E
Edyn H
Dani H
Marshall H
Charlie J
Rio M
Jude R
Thomas S
Xander S
Upper School
Gregory B
Jakub C
Hugh C
Dominic C
Alfie H
Lincoln H
Luke M
Jayden S
Joseph W
Paddy W